HAGERSVILLE – The Hagersville Hawks tasted both sides of a blow-out. The first, a 7-1 loss to Port Dover Saturday night, and the second, a blowout, 8-1 win at the Talbot Gardens in Simcoe.
With only six regular season games remaining, for the Hawks, the team to chase down is the Dundas Blues who are perched 10 points above Hagersville, in fourth place. Coming up from behind is the Dunnville Mud Cats with 28 points, four behind Hagersville. Every game is vitally important for the Hawks from this point on when it comes to final playoff positioning and matchups.
The Storm started out on the right foot, holding the Hagersville Hawks off the scoreboard in the first 20 minutes. But they had not scored either.
The Hawks turned on the engine at 3:34 of the second frame when Peter Cappucci opened the door for Cam Allan and Isaac Taylor. Simcoe scored on a powerplay with Ryley Smith finding room behind Ryan Guy who got the start in goal for the Hawks.
The third period went a little wanky for the storm who seemed to decide to tty intimidating the Hawks, a plan that didn’t work. While the penalties were flying, Hagersville was scoring goals.
Otasowie Omeregle, an acquisition from the Provincial Junior Hockey League five games ago, opened the scoring with this third of the season to go along with his three assists and 30 minutes in penalties.
That was 35 seconds into the period. At 1:23 Wesley Fritz continued the parade followed by Harrison Larochelle, Cam Allan and Zach Carr’s powerplay goal scored at 19:16 for the 8-1 final score.
Riley Smith and Calum Smith got under each other’s skin at 17:48, resulting in Hagersville’s Smith getting a two minute crosschecking minor, plus a 10-minute misconduct for inciting, while Simcoe’s Smith was assessed two-minutes for being the aggressor, a five minute fighting major, a game misconduct and a two-minute instigator minor.
A huge test will come Wednesday night, Jan. 24th in Glanbrook when the Hag-Hawks do battle with the Rangers. Friday night they will be in Dunnville and Saturday night the Hagersville Arena is reserved for the Dundas Blues at 7:30 p.m.
